SMB-Alaska duel on

The fight is down to four teams but the smoke of battle billows all the more as the remaining contenders for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship move to the best-of-five playoffs starting today at the Araneta Coliseum.

One team is moving on, determined to continue its reign of terror in the league, another hopeful of rekindling its glorious past, another one seeking to fulfill a self-imposed crusade and yet another looking forward to nailing its first-ever championship.

It’s San Miguel Beer versus Alaska Milk and Purefoods against Red Bull in two exciting duels which could turn to be monster August jousts in the league.

Forget the seedings as the four teams will play on equal terms here.

Coaches of all teams believe they have good chances to win but no one is undermining their respective rivals.

"Against Alaska, we’ll be up against a team with height and young legs," said coach Jong Uichico although his Beermen set out the odds-on picks after topping the elimination round then easily hurdling the Mobiline Phone Pals in the quarterfinals.

Alaska coach Tim Cone admits they’re the underdog but vows to give the Beermen a good fight.

"When we were playing San Miguel before, we’re the team of the moment and I was saying we’re up against a young upstart which could be the team of the future. It’s the other way around now with San Miguel the team of the moment and us the young upstart. But I promise to give them a good fight," said Cone.

The Aces have won the Commissioner’s Cup twice with the last time in 1998 at the expense of the Beermen. Alaska then still had Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Poch Juinio and Bong Hawkins in its lineup while San Miguel had a ragtag team with only Nelson Asaytono, Olsen Racela, Freddie Abuda, Mike Mustre and a young Danny Ildefonso fresh from college to lean on.

Infusing young blood in Dan Seigle, Boybits Victoria, Dwight Lago and Nic Belasco, the Beermen have won five titles the last three years and are looking well capable of getting a shot at a sixth crown.

The Aces opted to still play with Sean Chambers as their import although Terrance Badgett has been given a clean bill of health by his doctor.

Featuring an exciting import matchup and more is the Purefoods-Red Bull tiff.

The Hotdogs are determined to win today more than ever as they’re seeking to make a statement on the court while awaiting decision by the PBA board of governors on Purefoods’ appeal for franchise extension in the league.

"We’ve redeemed ourselves from our sorry loss to Ginebra in the All-Filipino but we want to go all the way to win the championship, para kahit ano ang mangyari sa franchise, mayroon kaming maiiwan na maganda sa liga," said Purefoods coach Eric Altamirano.

But Purefoods is facing the Red Bull team which is also raring to make the finals to get a crack at a first-ever title in the league.

"For a young team like ours, whatever happens from now on is already an achievement for us. But, of course, we’ll still go for the highest stake here," said coach Yeng Guiao, whose Thunder are to play their second semis in five conferences in the league.